Hiya, everyone! Yeah, I know, I haven't posted in more than a WEEK - am I crazy or what?? Sorry to leave y'all hanging - and yes, Rachel, I sound like a country girl - using the word "y'all" - and I'm proud of it! :-)Welllll...has anyone seen the weather forecast lately? There's going to be huge storms coming through here ("strong winds and heavy rain"),starting tomorrow, so.....we're not going to Stowe, Vermont. Even though the color of the trees is at its peak. Stinkin' rain!! OK, now I'm done complaining. :-) God has His plans.Speaking of God - and why shouldn't we be speaking of God? - I think He might be telling I need to laugh more. One of my good friends and I, in our emails to each other, were talking about laughing and laughing at each other. (We were laughing about the fact that there is a key broke off of us kids' laptop and I have to press down on this little dinky button with my pinkie finger every time I have to use it...and we were laughing about her story of pouring too much garlic on her popcorn. :-) Don't ask.) Also, on a girls' blog that I'm following - which is a famous Christian author's blog, by the way - we are taking a break from the serious stuff and sharing the stories of our embarrasing, klutzy, usually-ends-up-in-a-hilarious-injury moments. I had SO much fun reading all of the girls' klutzy moments! They ranged everywhere from a girl swallowing a quarter when she was little to a girl fainting in church. I think the funniest one I read was of one girl who was filling a large bucket of water for her horses while singing along to a song on her iPod. The horses were not impressed, and one yanked out her headphones. Thankfully she was able to get it back without damaging herself, the headphones, or the horse. Unthankfully (even though that isn't a word), she fell into the bucket of water. She ended her story with the words, "Did I mention that this was around Christmas and the water was freezing cold?"

OK, on to the pictures!! (Insert trumpeting here). I'm trying out a slideshow for the first time. Sorry it's so big - I don't know how to make it smaller. Please click on it to play. Let me know if you like it!

I hope that loads quickly on your computer - the slideshow, I mean. I started this blog last night and I am finishing it now. I was going to add some more pictures, but I'd have to get off my dad's laptop, which I'm on now, and onto the kids' laptop - because the pics are already on there - and I don't feel like doing that. I just want to type. :-)Please be praying for health and quick healing for our family - mainly quick healing. Nathan is sick, I'm sick, and Dad is sick. Mom was already sick; she was the first one who caught it. Noah and Nicholas are still fine. My throat is so sore from draining so much. I'm about to take some Alka Seltzer Cold Plus - medicine for a cold - and that usually makes me feel better when I'm sick. It's orange flavored and it's carbonated, so it tastes like Fanta (an orange flavored soda that I rarely have but love it when I do) - yum!If any of you read my mom's blog, she said she would be encouraging me to post my descriptive paragraph of the fire a few nights ago. More like telling me to post it. :-) Just kidding. (Oops - I just spilled my orange medicine on my white shirt; I have a drinking problem. :-) Just kidding [again] - Dad is driving the RV right now and it made me spill my medicine.) Anyway, the paragraph might not make much sense in some places since I just wrote what I thought - my random thoughts. :-) Please click on the link (Read More) at the bottom of this post to view it.

I also wanted to mention that I've been reading this book online called 'Piercing the Darkness.' Actually, after searching for a while, I finally found it free online this morning and started reading it. It's the sequel to the book 'This Present Darkness', which I believe I mentioned in a previous post. Anyway, it's really good so far. I found the book online by going to Google, clicking 'more' at the top of the page, clicking 'Books', and typing in the title of the book. The first result was the online, free book. Yay!!! :-) (Darn - I spilled my medicine on my shirt again - it's a good thing this is a PJ shirt - yes, I still have my PJ shirt on and my fuzzy socks, but I changed into a pair of jeans.)Right now we're on our way to Niagara Falls. We're going to actually go to the Falls tomorrow, probably, and this Sunday we'll leave to see relatives in Michigan - I can't wait! We haven't seen them in a long time.Well, I'm pretty much done with this post - I know, 'Halellujah! She's finally done!', right? :-) Just as my medicine started kicking in. Praise the Lord! :-) I probably use too many smiley faces, huh? Oh, well. God bless y'all with a safe and a great weekend!!

The Evening Fire The cool of the night fades as the heat of the fire embraces me, kissing my cheeks with its feiry warmth. The flames dance to a wild tune, engulfing the remnant of the wood. They fearlessly blow this way and that in the relentless wind, springing up and braving the cold blackness that hangs like a heavy blanket in the air. The embers glow furiously, silently flickering to a quiet beat of the wood's cracks, pops, and squeals of protest. My bare feet are enclosed in a sharp coldness, but my face is aglow, reflecting the heat of the fire. The smell of pine perfumes the air, as sweet and agreeable as a strawberry, it's rich juice dribbling down your chin. Sparks rise in the air, fading away into the night sky. The small yet brilling globes of light adorn the sky like sparkles of gold dust scattered in the dirt. The smoke billows up in the air, its milky clouds rise out of the remaining fire. The flaming tongues lick at a twig like a row of crows shuffling on a branch. Whispers of burning light stream across the bark, gently fading as I close my eyes to the beauty of God's creations.

I am sorry you are not feeling well, I pray God will heal you quickly. Even though you are under the weather, you writing is still outstanding. Keep it up and God Bless.

Reply

Paige

10/18/2010 01:32:51 am

Hey Nicole! I'm one of the girls from the blog! I saw your mom said you guys recently went to Niagra Falls! That's such an awesome place. Its kinda funny, I live like a few hours from there. Are you guys by any chance going to be going to the PA Grand Canyon? If you do, please tell me!! It'd be cool to meet up with another faith girl!!

Reply

Paige

10/18/2010 01:35:36 am

Ooh! I saw you already went through Pennsylvania. Darn!! It would've been super cool to meet you! Oh well (:

Reply

Nicole

10/19/2010 06:56:38 am

Hopefully I'll blog again later, but I just wanted to thank you, Paige, for commenting! And I SO wish I could have met up with you!! That would have been awesome - you know, some of the girls on the blog probably live in the same area not too far from each other and don't even know it. :) There was another girl that we were near on our trip so far, but we had already passed her. I should be checking out the girls' blogs for info on where they live!! :)

Reply

Rachel

10/26/2010 05:58:04 am

I hope i didn,t sound mean when I said you sounded like a country girl. If i did i'm sorry i didn't mean to. I hope you get better soon. I miss you. You should see if you can put videos on your blog if you can i think you should.

Reply

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Hey, peoples! :) I'm glad you found my blog - now I'm going to tell you to go to another blog! ;) This is my old blog (hence the post to the left over there), so you can go to my new blog (with Blogger) with this link: *Forgiven Mess*

A Lot about Me,Nicole Gregory:

I am your untypical 13-year-old girl (well, I like to think of myself that way). :) I love my Savior, Jesus Christ, and I try my best to obey my awesome God. I like writing and enjoy reading even more. My favorite Christian author is Nancy Rue. My two favorite colors areteal and fuchsia. I love animals, especially dolphins, dogs, cats, and horses. My favoriteChristian radio stations areJoyFM and K-Love, andsome of my favoriteChristian singers and bandsare Francesca Battistelli, Britt Nicole, Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, J.J.Heller, Mandisa, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Sidewalk Prophets...the list goes onand on and on. I am home-schooled and I love it! I lovespending time with the wonderful friends God hasblessed me with! I love myfamily who I always thank God for. :) By the way, I am a TRIPLET, with three brothers, Nathan, Noah, and the youngest by a year and a half, Nicholas. God has blessed me abundantly, and I can't wait tosee what He has in store! God bless!!